Muslim Women in India Seek Gender Equality in MarriageApril 24, 2012By NILANJANA S. ROY NEW DELHI -- Three years ago, Salma Khatun's husband divorced her in a fit of rage after a quarrel, pronouncing what is known as the triple talaq in the presence of witnesses. The triple talaq is a formula of repudiation. The first two times it is pronounced, it can be revoked, but the third time it makes a divorce binding, according to some interpretations of Islamic law.Although Ms. Khatun's husband repented the next morning, the head cleric of their mosque in Delhi insisted that the divorce was binding. According to his reading of Islamic law, Ms. Khatun would need to marry another man, consummate the marriage and then divorce before she could remarry her husband.For more than a decade, Muslim women's organizations in India have been fighting for changes in the body of Islamic law that governs marriage, divorce and the property rights of women. But as the All-India Muslim Personal Law Board held its annual convention in Mumbai last week, the battle lines had never been so starkly drawn. Although the Indian Constitution guarantees equal rights to all citizens irrespective of their religion, Muslims are governed by the Muslim Personal Law (Shariat) Application Act of 1937. Attempts to apply a common civil code have often been viewed as interference in the practices of India's largest religious minority.The Personal Law Board is one of the country's more influential Muslim groups. Its chiefly male membership of clerics and scholars has rejected proposals to change Muslim personal law, and is opposing a demand by women's groups that marriages be legally registered, as is mandatory for non-Muslims.Zeenat Shaukat Ali, a professor of Islamic Studies at St. Xavier's College in Mumbai and the author of "Marriage and Divorce in Islam," is blunt in her assessment of the current situation."We are asking for codification of the legal system within the framework of Koranic law," she said. "The Koran does not support a system that is controlled by the patriarchy, and the government has to treat this matter on a war footing if they truly mean to bring about gender justice."The changes that women's organizations have been discussing for more than a decade -- with major meetings held across India over the last three years -- include the compulsory registration of marriages with the state, the abolition of the triple talaq on the grounds that violates the Koran and the establishment of a more reliable system of financial support for wives."There is no political will to change this law even though we are a secular democratic republic," said Ms. Ali. "Politicians refuse to move ahead because some males have objected."Her view is echoed by several Muslim women's rights groups. Many of these, like the breakaway All India Muslim Women Personal Law Board, which was founded in 2005, have attempted to introduce changes in their own way. In 2008, this group, led by Shaista Amber, proposed a "shariat nikahnama," or Islamic marriage contract. This called for mandatory marriage registration and proposed more rights to the wife, within the guidelines of Koranic law. The All-India Muslim Personal Law Board dismissed the proposed changes.Two years later, in 2010, the Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan, an organization of more than 20,000 Muslim women in 15 states across India, staged marches in the streets of Lucknow to support three women who had assaulted Muslim clerics after their husbands had obtained fraudulent divorce decrees by bribery. Now, the B.M.M.A. is urging legislation to address Muslim family life, arguing that "in the absence of codified law, customary practices that have diverged from the values and principles of the Koran have emerged."Zakia Soman, a founding member of the B.M.M.A., has spent much of the last three years listening to what Muslim women -- and a growing number of Muslim men -- have said in support of changing the laws."The clerics are ignorant about what the Koran has to say on the subject of women's lives," she said. "The Muslim Personal Law Board is not representative of all Muslims. Nobody elected them, and they have very few women in their organization. They don't consider women equal, which is extremely un-Islamic. God doesn't distinguish between men and women."In our three years of consultation around the country, nowhere have we found any voice saying we don't need a codified law."But the larger argument is not limited to the question of family law, important as that might be. What has been raised often, especially in the past year, is the question of whether male Muslim clerics can speak for Muslim women.Daud Sharifa Khanum, who founded a women's empowerment group called Steps in rural Tamil Nadu State in 1991, wrote eloquently of the dissatisfaction many Muslim women felt: "Many women said that they were very unhappy with the way women were treated by community organizations such as the jamaats, the federations attached to mosques. Women's lives were discussed, problems were addressed, without the women being present."In 2001, Steps formed a jamaat for women that has a strong presence today, and says it may even build a women's mosque. The mosques, Ms. Khanum has argued, were "not really of the people." Rather, she said, they were "male spaces that discriminated against women.""We shouldn't forget that the Prophet himself was one of the first feminists," said Ms. Ali, of St. Xavier's. "We need to settle the legal reform debate. Let the clerics and male scholars come and discuss this, with the women's activists on the other side."Meanwhile, Ms. Khatun's story had a relatively happy ending. Faced with the prospect of marrying a strange man, Ms. Khatun found an innovative solution to her marital troubles. She took her woes to the head cleric's wife, who exerted gentle pressure on her husband until he remembered a loophole that allowed him to declare the divorce -- which neither Ms. Khatun nor her husband wanted -- null and void. But not all Muslim women in similar situations have been this fortunate."It was 1,400 years ago that the Koran gave women equal rights," Ms. Soman said wryly.http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/news/world/muslim-women-in-india-seek-gender-equality-in-marriage-632887/--------

Ahmadiyyas members of Islamic society, say Indonesian Muslim UlemaA leader of the country’s second-largest Muslim organization says the Ahmadiyya sect are members of Islamic society despite some of their beliefs differing from more mainstream forms of the religion.Muhammadiyah secretary Abdul Muti said that acknowledgment was based solely on the will to maintain good relationships with Ahmadi counterparts.“Muhammadiyah acknowledges Muhammad as the final prophet, which is rather different to them. But that doesn’t change our will to maintain good relationships and improve future cooperation with them,” he told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.He said Muhammadiyah would stand against any attempt to attack Ahmadi followers after savage displays of violence by a minority of hard-liners in the past five years.“The government should take this matter seriously. Those who have attacked Ahmadi followers and their assets should be firmly punished,” he said.Separately, Muhammadiyah chairman Din Syamsuddin said that Muhammadiyah has never called for the disbandment of Ahmadiyah, despite the group often declaring that the religious sect was heretical.“We have been telling our followers to disregard anyone who believes that there was another prophet after Muhammad. However, we are against anyone who physically attacks Ahmadi followers,” he said.The two largest Muslim organizations in Indonesia, the Nahdlatul Ulama and the Muhammadiyah say the disagreement with the Ahmadiyah view on the role of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad should not be displayed through violence. (asa/dic)http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2012/04/25/muslim-figure-says-ahmadiyah-still-part-islam.html-----------

Islamic groups offer reward for arrests for crimes committed in Muslim garbBy Laura CofskyA recent wave of bank holdups and a homicide committed by men dressed as Muslim women has prompted the Philadelphia-area Islamic community to offer a $20,000 reward for tips that lead to the arrest and conviction of the suspects.The Majlis Ash Shura, an organization representing the membership of 71 masajids and congregations in the Philadelphia area, was joined by elected officials at a news conference Tuesday at City Hall.The message from the District Attorney’s Office and the Islamic community: zero tolerance.“Philadelphia is a unique city in that Islam is not new here,” said Aliya Khabir, a public relations official representing the national United Muslim Masajid. “It’s up to us to set the tone for how this is addressed.”Five bank robberiesSince December, there have been at least five bank robberies in Philadelphia in which the suspects wore Muslim clothing. The most recent holdups include a robbery at the Wells Fargo Bank in the 700 block of Adams Avenue and the Sovereign Bank in the 8300 block of Stenton Avenue. On April 18, a suspect dressed in Muslim garb entered an Upper Darby barber shop and fatally shot Michael Turner, 35. Sharif Wynn, 27, of Philadelphia has been arrested.The clothing, which consists of a loose dress, or abaya, and a head covering known as a niqab, is worn by some Muslim women as a sign of respect for God.“Whatever happened to the mask?” asked Imam Asim Abdul-Rashid, head of the Masajid of the Delaware Valley, referring to the stereotypical ski mask in crimes.Both members of the Majlis Ash Shura and Councilman Curtis Jones Jr. said other major U.S. cities have not faced this issue. Jones said he did not believe a single group was responsible for the holdups, but rather that some “not-too-smart criminals” were using the disguise to get closer to their victims.During the news conference, District Attorney Seth Williams said the recent crimes would not be tolerated.“We are seeing cowards dressed in the outer garb of Muslim women,” he said. “We will do all that we can to make sure [Muslim] women aren’t degraded in this way.”Women in jeopardyMany in the Muslim community consider this a wave of “hate crimes,” because it puts Muslim women in jeopardy.Amir Imam al-Atharee, a member of the Majlis Ash Shura, said this kind of activity “makes it dangerous for Muslim women and the community.” He is worried that Muslim women, especially those wearing the traditional garb, will be ostracized and targeted, so that they won’t be safe even going to the corner store.“I would like to ask the perpetrators if they have a mother, a daughter, or an aunt, and if they’d put them in jeopardy with this act,” said Alia Walker, executive director of Earth’s Keepers in Philadelphia.“We are human beings. To have my peers look at me in some kind of way because of this crime ... it really hurts my heart,” Walker said.“You put everyone in danger,” Jones said, referring to the criminals. “We’ve been through enough since 9/11 to have this kind of distrust.”Contact Laura Cofsky at 215-854-2771 or lcofsky@philly.com.http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20120425_Islamic_groups_offer_reward_for_arrests_for_crimes_committed_in_Muslim_garb.html----------

Lady Gaga warned about offending Muslims during world tourOne Indonesian leader calls on Lady Gaga not to wear provocative outfits.Lady Gaga has been warned about her provocative outfits ahead of her tour of Indonesia in June.The multi-million-selling artist, who is on a 110-date world tour to promote her album Born This Way Ball, is currently in South Korea.Indonesia is the world's biggest Muslim nation and Islamic leaders have said her risque outfits will not be tolerated."I call on Lady Gaga to respect our cultural and traditional values. Most people here are Muslims and we cannot tolerate her revealing outfits and sexy performances," the Indonesia Ulema Council leader Amidhan told AFP. "It's better for Lady Gaga to cancel her show in this country if she has no willingness to respect our demand. Please do not destroy our nation's morality and ruin our dignity.".Lady Gaga - Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta - has courted controversy for appearing clad in outfits made of raw meat or on high heels. Big Daddy, the promoters for the concert in Jakarta, said tickets began selling in early March and were sold out within two weeks."We have informed Lady Gaga's management (about these concerns), and they said that they will respect the country where she will perform", said Hanny Marpaung, corporate secretary for Big Daddy.But he added "we still don't have any clue" about what she will wear.In the Philippines, a youth organisation urged people to stay away from Gaga's May 21 concert, saying it poses a threat to moral values in Asia's largest Catholic nation.Laurence Pintero, head of the Manila-based Youth for Christ, criticised the government for allowing the concert to take place. "If the government thinks she is a threat, first and foremost they should stop it," he said. "I think we should be bold. We discourage (people from) attending her concert."http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/music-news/9225687/Lady-Gaga-warned-about-offending-Muslims-during-world-tour.html---------

The legacy of Victorian England's first Islamic convertBy Rahila BanoOn a bleak, wet and windy day in Liverpool the old Georgian, white-stoned building which once housed England's first registered mosque looks quite dull.The property on Brougham Terrace is just a few miles from Liverpool city centre but, in stark contrast to the newer council building next door to it, the paint is peeling off the front walls and the windows are boarded up, after years of vandalism.The house, one of three adjoining properties, was once owned by William Abdullah Quilliam, a solicitor and son of a Methodist preacher. In 1887, he became the first Christian to convert to Islam in Victorian England.Born William Henry Quilliam, he turned to the religion after a trip to Morocco, and adopted the name Abdullah.Full Report At:http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-17827016--------

Libya Bans Religious Political PartiesTRIPOLI, Libya (AP) — Libya's ruling National Transitional Council issued a new law Wednesday that bans parties based on religious principles, the council spokesman said. The surprise move was denounced by Islamists organizing to compete in upcoming elections.Mohammed al-Hareizi said the provision, included in a law which governs the formation of political parties, was designed to preserve "national unity.""Parties shouldn't be based on ethnic or religious ideologies," he said. "We don't want the government to be divided by these ideological differences."Islamists, like most political or religious groups in Libya, were long suppressed by former dictator Moammar Gadhafi. He was killed by Libyan rebels in October after eight months of fighting.The law comes two months ahead of the country's first general elections to choose a 200-member assembly tasked with writing a new constitution and forming a government.Full Report At:http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2012/04/25/world/middleeast/ap-ml-libya.html?ref=global-home--------

Crisis Worries Iraqi Kurdish LeaderIRBIL, Iraq (AP) — Time is running out for the Iraqi government to decide on a power-sharing agreement to end a political crisis roiling the country, the president of Iraq's self-ruled Kurdish region warned Wednesday.Without an agreement, Kurdish leader Massoud Barzani said, Iraq could face a political revolt that may scuttle hopes for a unified, stable nation just months after the departure of U.S. troops.Iraqi opposition parties and Iraqi Kurds in general have run out of patience with feeling sidelined in Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's Shiite-led government, Barzani told The Associated Press in a 45-minute interview in his office outside the Iraqi Kurdish regional capital of Irbil."There is a very dangerous political crisis in the country," Barzani said. However, he stopped short of predicting whether al-Maliki would be ousted from power anytime soon.Full Report At:http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2012/04/25/world/middleeast/ap-ml-iraq-kurdish-leader.html?ref=global-home&gwh=3CACFED6CBB66715DE2C4F9629F367E1---------

The Control Factor: Misreading the Jihadist Threat Ryan MauroAmerica needs an "inner jihad" in order to cope with the jihad being waged against us. That's the thought-provoking message of The Control Factor by Bill Siegel, a new book that analyzes the psychological impulses driving the West's misreading and denials of the jihadist threat.Siegel argues that there's a psychological process, which he calls the "Control Factor," that copes with anxiety and insecurity from a lack of control. This is born into us and is not a reflection of one's nationality, personal strength or intelligence. Other circumstances fostering insecurity, such as America's economic condition, make the Control Factor more powerful.This is a unique take on the problem. The downplaying of the Islamist threat is often condescendingly chalked up to a willful denial of reality by those who are weak or unintelligent. The Control Factor adds depth by identifying this psychological process so readers can see how it has been in motion since 9/11.Full Report At:http://www.radicalislam.org/analysis/control-factor-misreading-jihadist-threat---------

Dawam Rahardjo: Fighting for pluralism to the endIka KrismantariNo individuals or organizations — or even old age — can stop Muslim scholar Dawam Rahardjo from spreading the spirit of pluralism.The figure who struggles for the rights of minorities in the world’s most populous Muslim country continues to dedicate himself to the cause and dares to challenge everyone and everything trying to prevent him from striving to create peace among religions in Indonesia.Even now, at almost 70 years of age, Dawam is still fighting the battle despite his worsening health.The founder of the Institute for Religious and Philosophy Studies (LSAF) has refused to succumb to old age and diabetes that have taken their toll on his eyesight and his ability to walk.“I am still doing some monitoring with LSAF. I am also involved in the filing of a judicial review against the blasphemy law as well as taking part in a movement that defends churches, which have been forcibly closed down, so they can be re-opened again,” Dawam said of his hectic schedule during an interview with The Jakarta Post.Full Report At:http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2012/04/25/dawam-rahardjo-fighting-pluralism-end.html--------

Amnesty says Muslims in Europe face discriminationApr 24, 2012 PARIS: Amnesty International says in a new report that Muslims in several European countries face discrimination in hiring and daily life because of rules targeting their customs.The report pays special attention to national laws or local rules against wearing headscarves or face-covering Islamic veils in countries such as France and Belgium.The human rights group spoke to Muslims who have had trouble getting jobs or had to change schools because of discrimination.It notes the rise in political movements that target Muslims or Muslim practices.The report comes after far right leader Marine Le Pen scored a surprisingly strong third-place showing in France’s presidential elections. Her anti-immigrant platform singled out Muslim practices for criticism.http://arabnews.com/world/article616302.ece?service=print--------

Egyptian Actor Insulted Islam, a Court FindsBy DAVID D. KIRKPATRICK24 Apr 2012CAIRO — A court found Egypt’s most popular comic actor guilty on Tuesday of insulting Islam in roles in films mocking religious hypocrisy, alarming liberal-minded artists and intellectuals already anxious about the growing power of Islamists here after the ouster of President Hosni Mubarak.The court fined the actor Adel Imam about $170 and gave him a suspended sentence. Mr. Imam is expected to appeal. Although laws criminalizing insults to Islam or Christianity have been on the books for years, convictions have been relatively rare, especially in the context of popular movies.Full Report At:http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/25/world/middleeast/egyptian-actor- guilty-of-insulting-islam-in-films.html?ref=world&pagewanted=print--------

Pakistan tests missile days after India's launchBy SEBASTIAN ABBOT,25 Apr 2012,ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistan successfully launched an upgraded ballistic missile capable of carrying a nuclear warhead Wednesday, days after its neighbor and archenemy India conducted its own missile test, the Pakistani military said.The Hatf IV Shaheen-1A missile was fired into the sea, the military said in a written statement.It was described as an intermediate-range missile having a longer range than its predecessor, the Shaheen-1, which is believed to fly up to 750 kilometers (465 miles)."The improved version of Shaheen-1A will further consolidate and strengthen Pakistan's deterrence abilities," said Lt. Gen. Khalid Ahmed Kidwai, who witnessed the launch and is responsible for the country's nuclear program.Full Report At:http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5helggsCFfClKJpW 0Q_jHPsMK2iJA?docId=ddcb288557c44104a1eda96407098365--------

Don't let nukes overshadow Iranian human rights: Iranian ActivistBy AFPApril 25, 2012CHICAGO: Iran’s nuclear ambitions should not prevent world leadersFrom pressing the Persian nation to respect human rights and open its Government to democracy, Nobel Peace Prize winner and exiled Iranianactivist Shirin Ebadi said Tuesday.“I’m very glad that both governments of Iran and the United States have stated that the negotiations that recently took place in Istanbul on the issue of nuclear energy have been successful,” Ebadi told theWorld Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates in Chicago.However, Ebadi said, she objects to any efforts to “shake the hand of friendship with a government that for the past 30 years has been fighting human rights.”The Iranian government “neither likes peace with its own people nor is interested in listening to what the people have to say,” Ebadi said through a translator.“In any negotiations with the government of Iran, democracy and human rights should be the subject of negotiations.”The peace and democracy movement in Iran is very strong despite recent crackdowns, Ebadi said.Full Report At:http://tribune.com.pk/story/369681/dont-let-nukes-overshadow-iranian-human-rights-ebadi/?print=true--------

South Sudan president: Sudan has 'declared war'Nairobi, Kenya, April 25, 2012South Sudan's President said its northern neighbor has "declared war" on the world's newest nation, just hours after Sudanese jets dropped eight bombs on his country. President Salva Kiir's comments, made on Tuesday during a trip to China, signal a rise in rhetoric between the rival nations, who spent decades at war with each other. Neither side has officially declared war.Sudan and South Sudan have been drawing closer to a full-scale war in recent weeks over the unresolved issues of oil revenues and their disputed border. The violence has drawn alarm and condemnation from the international community, including from US President Barack Obama.South Sudan won independence from Sudan last year as part of a 2005 peace treaty that ended decades of war that killed 2 million people.The UN Security Council was briefed on the situation late Tuesday and members demanded "an immediate halt to aerial bombardments by the Sudanese armed forces and urged an immediate cease-fire and return to the negotiating table," Susan Rice, the US ambassador to the United Nations and the current council president, told reporters at UN headquarters in New York.Full Report At:http://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/Africa/South-Sudan-presid ent-Sudan-has-declared-war/Article1-845804.aspx----------

Turkey Feels Sway of Reclusive Cleric in the U.S.By DAN BILEFSKY and SEBNEM ARSUISTANBUL — When Ahmet Sik was jailed last year on charges of plotting to overthrow the government, he had little doubt that a secretive movement linked to a reclusive imam living in the United States was behind his arrest.“If you touch them you get burned,” a gaunt and defiant Mr. Sik said in an interview in March at his apartment here, just days after being released from more than a year in jail. “Whether you are a journalist, an intellectual or a human rights activist, if you dare to criticize them you are accused of being a drug dealer or a terrorist.”Mr. Sik’s transgression, he said, was to write a book, “The Army of the Imam.” It chronicles how the followers of the imam, Fethullah Gulen, have proliferated within the police and the judiciary, working behind the scenes to become one of Turkey’s most powerful political forces — and, he contends, one of its most ruthless, smearing opponents and silencing dissenters.Full Report At:http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/25/world/middleeast/turkey-feels-sway-of-fethullah-gulen-a-reclusive-cleric.html?_r=1---------

Sri Lanka Muslims decry radical Buddhist mosque attackCOLOMBO, 3 Jumada Al-Thani/24 April (IINA)-The main umbrella group of Sri Lankan Muslims says radical Buddhists are trying to damage peaceful co-existence between the country’s main ethnic communities.The statement came three days after hardline Buddhists tried to storm a mosque, after which the government said it would be demolished and relocated.Buddhists in the central town of Dambulla have defended their actions.But the issue has provoked anger among some prominent Muslims.The Muslim Council of Sri Lanka said it was “deeply concerned” at the attempted destruction of the mosque in Dambulla last Friday.It said the building was lawfully registered and was 50 years old.The council said that radical Buddhist elements – against the will of the majority – were consistently undermining ethnic co-existence. It called on leaders of Sri Lanka’s majority Buddhist faith to re-establish good ties.Mohamed Saleemdeen, a board member of the mosque, denied it was an illegal building.Full Report At:http://iina.me/wp_en/?p=1007938---------

Amnesty International encourages Europe to fight anti-Muslim prejudicePARIS – European laws on what girls and women wear on their heads are encouraging discrimination against Muslims and against a religion that has been part of Europe's fabric for centuries, Amnesty International says in a new report.Extremist political movements targeting Muslim practices for criticism have enjoyed a rise in several European countries -- as witnessed by French far right leader Marine Le Pen's surprisingly strong showing in presidential elections this week.In that climate, the Amnesty report released Tuesday lists a raft of examples of discrimination against Muslims from Spain to the Netherlands and Turkey, spurred on by laws viewed as anti-Islam.The report, titled "Choice and Prejudice," pays special attention to national laws or local rules against wearing headscarves or face-covering Islamic veils. France and Belgium ban them outright, as do some towns in Spain and elsewhere."Amnesty International is concerned that states have focused so much in recent years on the wearing of full-face veils, as if this practice were the most widespread and compelling form of inequality women in Europe have to face," the report says.Proponents, such as French President Nicolas Sarkozy, say face-covering veils imprison women and violate France's values of equality. France also bans headscarves in schools.Full Report At:http://www.foxnews.com/world/2012/04/24/amnesty-international-encourages-europe-to-fight-anti-muslim-prejudice/#ixzz1t3iRCxKT--------

Reports say storms kill 17 people in BangladeshDhaka, April 07, 2012News reports say storms with heavy rains and strong winds have killed at least 17 people and injured dozens more in Bangladesh.Dhaka's Prothom Alo and Janakantha newspapers say Friday's storms damaged mud-and-straw huts and felled trees in 10 of the country's The reports say most of the deaths occurred from lightning. Some victims were buried under their collapsed houses.Official confirmation of the reports was not immediately available.Rainstorms are common in Bangladesh, a tropical delta nation of 160 million people.http://www.hindustantimes.com/News-Feed/bangladesh/Reports-say-st orms-kill-17-people-in-Bangladesh/Article1-836785.aspx--------

Leading Bahrain activist Zainab al-Khawaja detained25 Apr 2012,A prominent pro-democracy activist in Bahrain has been detained for seven days after being arrested for allegedly insulting police, rights groups say.Zainab al-Khawaja was held on Saturday night after sitting in a road leading to the Bahrain International Circuit, a day before the Formula 1 Grand Prix.She was demanding the cancellation of the race, the end of the crackdown on dissent, and the release of her father.Abdulhadi al-Khawaja has been on a hunger strike in prison for 76 days.Activists said Zainab al-Khawaja was arrested while sitting peacefully in the middle of a main road in protest at the detention of her father, and that she had been charged with disrupting traffic and insulting an officer.Her sister, Maryam, said: "I can guess it's because nobody really believes in the legal system. Zainab's mentality is you can only bring about the fall of the regime when you stop treating it as a government.Full Report At:http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-17824795?print=true--------

Mumbai terror attack: SC reserves order on Ajmal Kasab's pleaApr 25, 2012, NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Wednesday reserved its order on Pakistani terrorist Mohammed Ajmal Amir Kasab's plea challenging his conviction and death sentence in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks. A bench of justices Aftab Alam and C K Prasad reserved its verdict after a marathon hearing, spanning over two and a half months, of arguments by the prosecution and defence counsel in the terror mayhem, which involved random firing by Kasab and other mercenaries, killing 166 people. During the argument, Kasab contended that he was not given a free and fair trial and that he was not the part of any larger conspiracy for waging war against the nation. Full Report At:http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Mumbai-terror-attack-SC-reserves-order-on-Ajmal-Kasabs-plea/articleshow/12865586.cms?prtpage=1--------

India-Pak nuclear clash may trigger global starvation: StudyApril 25, 2012More than a billion people around the world could face starvation if a nuclear war breaks out between India and Pakistan, according to a new report which said the "nuclear famine" will be an "unprecedented" disaster that would bring an end to modern civilisation. The report released by International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW) said a nuclear "confrontation" between the South Asian neighbours, even if it is restricted to the region, would cause major worldwide climate disruption driving down food production in China, the US and other nations."New evidence that even the relatively small nuclear arsenals of countries such as India and Pakistan could cause long lasting, global damage to the Earth's ecosystems and threaten hundreds of millions of already malnourished people demands that action be taken," said Ira Helfand, author of the study.Full Report At:http://www.hindustantimes.com/business-news/WorldEconomy/India-Pak-nuclear-clash-may-trigger-global-starvation-Study/Article1-845816.a spx--------

Turkey says Israel not welcome at NATO summit24 April, 2012 ISTANBUL: Turkey has refused to allow Israel to take part in a NATO summit next month because the Jewish state has not apologised for the 2010 killing of Turkish activists in a raid on a ship taking aid to Palestinians, a Turkish official said on Monday.Relations between the regional powers deteriorated sharply after Israeli commandos raided the Mavi Marmara aid vessel in May 2010 to enforce a naval blockade of the Gaza Strip and killed nine Turks."We did not give our consent on that issue," a Turkish official told Reuters when asked if Turkey was blocking Israel's participation in a NATO summit in Chicago on May 20-21.He said Turkey was still seeking an official apology and compensation for the victims of the Mavi Marmara raid."NATO is an alliance and even though Israel is not a member its attendance means... positive dialogue with NATO and all its members and without sorting this issue out we deem it not appropriate for Israel to be around," the official said.Full Report At:http://paktribune.com/news/Turkey-says-Israel-not-welcome-at-NATO-summit-249267.html--------

Protesters try to shut Libya’s top oil firm AgocoApr 24, 2012 BENGHAZI, Libya: Protesters gathered outside Libya’s largest oil company for a second day on Tuesday demanding more transparency over how the country’s new rulers are spending its money and more jobs for the youth.Spokesman for the Arabian Gulf Oil Company (Agoco) Abdel Jalil Mayuf said the protesters were preventing employees from entering the building, attempting to halt work for a second day in a row.“We cannot get inside. They are protesting against the authorities, they want money,” he told Reuters on Tuesday.Highlighting the continued risks months after the ouster of Muammar Qaddafi, the group of 50 protesters, some of them unemployed youth who had fought in last year’s war, blocked the Agoco office entrance gate in the eastern city of Benghazi.Full Report At:http://arabnews.com/middleeast/article616337.ece?service=print--------

Iran not building nuclear bomb, Israeli army chief says25 Apr 2012,The head of the Israeli military has said he does not think Iran will develop nuclear weapons.Chief-of-Staff Lt Gen Benny Gantz made the statement in an interview with the Israeli newspaper, Haaretz.He said he believed international pressure was beginning to bear fruit, and Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, had not yet made the final decision to build a nuclear bomb.Gen Gantz was quoted as saying: "I don't think he will go the extra mile".This year was criticial for Iran, he added, warning: "We're in a period when something must happen.Full Report At:http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-17837768?print=true---------

V-c 'alcohol ban' comments could prompt attacks on Muslim students, London Met Islamic groups claim25 April 2012By David MatthewsTwo Islamic societies at London Metropolitan University have launched a scathing attack on “undemocratic, ill devised and misleading remarks” by the vice-chancellor, who proposed banning alcohol from parts of the campus in case it offended Muslims.In a joint letter to Malcolm Gillies, the Islamic Society and Shia Muslim Society said that his “divisive and irresponsible” plan has led to confrontations on campus and could lead to Muslim students being attacked.“There has never been a demand for an alcohol ban on campus from Muslim or non-Muslim students,” the letter says.Full Report At:http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=26&storycode=419743&c=1--------

Syria crisis and Bahrain unrest 24 April 2012,• Both the US and the UK have suggested they are losing patience with Kofi Annan's peace initiative amid continuing reports of breaches in the ceasefire. The UK warned of "robust" action against Syria if Annan's mission failed. The US said it won't wait 90 days if Syria continues to flout the initiative. Russia urged the international community to stick by Annan's plan.• Ahmad Fawzi, spokesman for the UN-Arab League envoy to Syria, has expressed "great concern" about reports that opposition areas are being targeted by government forces after visits by UN monitors.• Tunisia's president, Moncef Marzouki has warned Bashar al-Assad that he is "finished" and will leave Syria "dead or alive". In an interview with al-Hayat newspaper Marzouki urged Assad to go now. "It is best for you and your family to leave alive because if you decide to leave dead, this would mean that you will cause the death of tens of thousands of innocent people," he said.Full Report At:http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/middle-east-live/2012/apr/24/syria-crisis-bahrain-unrest-live--------

11 killed in fresh Karachi violence25 Apr 2012Bureau ReportKARACHI: Eleven people were killed in the city on Wednesday in a new wave of targeted violence that has claimed 14 lives in the last 24 hours. The violence began late on Tuesday night and sporadic killings continued to take place throughout the day. Many of the casualties occured following attacks on tea stalls.SHO Kamal Naseem informed The News that two bodies bearing torture marks and stuffed in gunny bags were found on Wednesday morning near the Dental College, Block-M, North Nazimabad. The deceased were identified as Mian Gul, 25, and Sardar Wali, 26. They were ANP activists.The body of a young man with torture marks was found in Gosht Market, Karimabad, on Wednesday morning. The deceased was identified as Amanullah Baloch, who was working at Pakwan House situated in the Jauharabad area.Full Report At:http://dailymailnews.com/0412/19/FrontPage/index.php?id=4--------

Lebanese terrorist killed in Syria as Islamists move inApr 25, 2012, Lebanon's most wanted militant Islamist terrorist has been killed while planting bombs for the rebel movement in Syria, raising fresh concerns about the growing influence of radicals in the opposition to the Assad regime.Abdel-Ghani Jawhar was said by security sources quoted in the Lebanese media to have been killed in Qusair, near the embattled city of Homs.According to one report, he blew himself up when a bomb he was preparing detonated prematurely.He was the head of Fatah-al-Islam, a militant group that had fought the Lebanese army and other militias. It is alleged to have loose ties with al-Qaeda and is certainly part of a wider network of militant Sunni groups whose involvement in the Syrian opposition has alarmed potential Western backers and the opposition itself.Full Report At:http://www.dnaindia.com/world/report_lebanese-terrorist-killed-in-syria-as-islamists-move-in_1680352------------

Bomb attack injures Bahrain policemen25 Apr 2012,A bomb explosion has wounded four members of Bahrain's police force - two of them seriously - during clashes with protesters, officials have said.Police said the injured men had been protecting firefighters investigating a blaze inside a shop in the mainly Shia village of Diraz on Tuesday night.During the operation a "terrorist" bomb was detonated nearby, they added.Tensions have been rising over the worsening condition of an imprisoned activist who has been on hunger strike.Abdulhadi al-Khawaja is protesting against the life sentence he received from a military court in June for allegedly plotting against the state.'Empty hospital room'Mr Khawaja's wife, Khadija, told the BBC that she had not been able to speak to him by telephone as usual on Tuesday.Full Report At:http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-17838725?print=true--------

Bomb at Train Station Kills 2 and Injures 27 in PakistanBy WAQAR GILLANI and DECLAN WALSH24 Apr 2012LAHORE, Pakistan — A bomb exploded inside the busiest railway station in this eastern Pakistani city late Tuesday afternoon, killing at least two people and injuring 27, police officials said.The blast ripped through the waiting area of Business Express, a new luxury train service linking Lahore to the port city of Karachi. A train carrying hundreds of people, the Awami Express, had just pulled in when the bomb went off, causing panic throughout the station.A security guard was among two people immediately killed; several others were critically injured and taken to a hospital.The Lahore police chief, Aslam Tareen, said that a device containing 13 to 18 pounds of explosive had been planted in a bag left inside the waiting area.Full Report At:http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/25/world/asia/bomb-kills-2-at-train-station-in-lahore-pakistan.html?ref=world&pagewanted=print--------

Pakistan ambassador meets imam of Prophet's MosqueBy MADINAH: ARAB NEWSApr 25, 2012 Pakistan Ambassador Muhammed Naeem Khan visited imam of the Prophet's Mosque Sheikh Abdur Bari Al-Zubaidi in Madinah on Monday.Al-Zubaidi very warmly received the ambassador and they discussed a number of matters related to bilateral relations between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.Khan conveyed the best wishes of President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani to Al-Zubaidi and requested him to pray for the solidarity and prosperity of Pakistan. The ambassador said the relationship between Pakistan and the Kingdom is deep rooted.Full Report At:http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article616486.ece?service=print--------

Pakistan’s top court to deliver verdict in PM caseBy ZARAR KHANApr 24, 2012 ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Supreme Court is expected to deliver its verdict later this week in a contempt case against the prime minister that could see him losing his job, the premier’s lawyer said Tuesday.A guilty verdict could also result in Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani serving up to six months in prison for his refusal to reopen an old corruption case against the president, his political ally.That could stoke fresh political turmoil at a time when Pakistan is trying to patch up its relations with the United States and is grappling with a weak economy and a bloody Taleban insurgency.But even if Gilani is forced to step down — a process that could take months — the deeper political impact could be limited since the ruling coalition has the majority in parliament needed to elect a new prime minister.Full Report At:http://arabnews.com/world/article616340.ece?service=print--------

Zardari for use of carrot and stick in LyariShamim Rahman |25 Apr @012Presiding over a special meeting held at Bilawal House to review the law and order situation and a development package for the strife-torn area, the president emphasised that law and order be maintained without fear or favour with the help of the law-enforcement agencies. He also asked party workers to refrain from taking the law into their own hands.The meeting was attended by Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah, PPP lawmakers and local party leaders, including Faisal Raza Abidi, Nabeel Gabol, Rafique Engineer, Mohammad Saleem Hingoro, Ismail Brohi, Shakoor Shad, Arshad Naqvi, Kausar Aamir, Ghulam Mohammad, Khalil Hoth and Taimour Siyal, besides the president’s spokesman Senator Farhatullah Babar.President Zardari expressed concern over recurring violence in Lyari over the last few months and said that residents of the PPP bastion were peace-loving people but some elements were out to disturb the peace.Full Report At:http://dawn.com/2012/04/25/zardari-for-use-of-carrot-and-stick-in-lyari/--------

IG Sindh police calls for bounty on 34 wanted criminals25 Apr @012KARACHI: Inspector General (IG) Sindh police Mushtaq Shah on Tuesday claimed to have arrested several miscreants from different areas including Lyari in Karachi and called for placing bounty on 34 most wanted criminals, DawnNews reported.Speaking in a press conference at Karachi police head office, Shah said that during the operation in Lyari, 123 suspects including members of “gang war” were arrested by the police.Seven betting dens have also been raided and closed up, he added.Moreover, the IG Sindh police said that five target killers and six extortionists have also been arrested from various areas of the metropolis.http://dawn.com/2012/04/24/ig-sindh-police-calls-for-bounty-on-34-wanted-criminals/--------

Quetta in focus: ‘Terrorists killed in encounter belonged to LeJ’April 25, 2012QUETTA: Two terrorists killed in an encounter near Hazara Town on Monday have been identified as key members of the banned outfit Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ).The group has claimed responsibility for a number of attacks targeting Shia Muslims in the province.“They belonged to LJ and were identified as Hafiz Naseer and Hafiz Wazir Ali alias Ali Sher Haideri, the spokesperson of the banned outfit,” city police officer Amir Mohammad Dasti told The Express Tribune on Tuesday, adding that the government had earlier announced a bounty on Hafiz Naseer.According to police, the LJ spokesperson had introduced himself as Ali Sher Haideri to the media while claiming responsibilities for several sectarian target killings in Quetta.“Several cell phone numbers of media outfits were recovered from them,” an official told the media.Full Report At:http://tribune.com.pk/story/369520/quetta-in-focus-terrorists-killed-in- encounter-belonged-to-lej/?print=true--------

Stillborn apology: Pakistan, US fail to break logjamBy Kamran YousafApril 25, 2012ISLAMABAD: Indefinitely delaying the much-anticipated reengagement process between the two allies, Pakistan and the US have ended up in a deadlock over the issue of a public apology for last year’s deadly Nato airstrike.The formal apology is one of the key preconditions set by Pakistan’s parliament to revive cooperation with the US and reopen Nato supply routes blocked since the airstrike at Salala which killed two dozen Pakistan Army soldiers.However, Pakistani officials have now disclosed that Washington is reluctant to accept the demand.The apparent hesitation on part of the Obama administration to tender a public apology over the incident has led to a stalemate, said a Pakistani diplomat, familiar with the development.Full Report At:http://tribune.com.pk/story/369513/stillborn-apology-pakistan-us-fail-to-break-logjam/?print=true--------

Islamabad: Trilateral forum to review ‘obstacles’ in Afghan By Tahir KhanApril 25, 2012ISLAMABAD: Top Pakistan, Afghan and US diplomats will meet in Islamabad on April 27 to discuss the “obstacles” in the peace and reconciliation process in Afghanistan, the country’s ambassador in the capital, Omar Daudzai, revealed on Tuesday.Daudzai told The Express Tribune that the core group will also review the progress in the Afghan peace process achieved so far.The trilateral forum was revived last month when senior diplomats from the three countries met in Dushanbe, Tajikistan after nearly a seven-month deadlock over the assassination of Afghan peace envoy Professor Burhanuddin Rabbani.Full Report At:http://tribune.com.pk/story/369588/huddle-in-islamabad-trilateral-forum-to-review-obstacles-in-afghan-peace/?print=true--------

I will appear before SC: PM Gilani25 Apr 2012ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said he would appear before the Supreme Court on April 26 (Thursday) which is when the verdict of the contempt of court case will be announced.Prime Minister Gilani is chairing the meeting of the federal cabinet during which he remarked that the decisions of the judiciary were always respected. Members of the cabinet also welcomed Prime MinisterGilani’s decision to appear before the Supreme Court and expressed confidence in his leadership.On Wednesday the Supreme Court had reserved its verdict in Prime Minister Gilani’s contempt of court case. The seven member bench had also directed Prime Minister Gilani to appear before the court on Thursday.http://www.thenews.com.pk/article-46047-I-will-appear-before-SC:-PM-Gilani--------

Pakistan asks UNSC to hold Israel accountable for defying Mideast peace bids25 April, 2012 UNITED NATIONS: Pakistan has called on the UN Security Council (UNSC) to hold Israel accountable for its continued defiance of international efforts to bring about a just settlement of the Middle East dispute."Flying in the face of the international community's will, Israel continues to implement policies in defiance of international law, and work towards undermining the basis of the two-state solution," Ambassador Raza Bashir Tarar, the acting permanent representative of Pakistan to the UN, told the Security Council."Its, Israel's, efforts to redraw the map of Palestine through continuation of illegal settlement activity, continued persecution of Palestinians and reluctance to accept the 1967 borders as the basis for negotiations, is taking the region to a state akin to a powder keg," he said in a debate on the Middle East situation.Full Report At:http://paktribune.com/news/Pakistan-asks-UNSC-to-hold-Israel-accountable-for-defying-Mideast-peace-bids-249294.html--------

Nato allies chart Afghan war withdrawal strategy25 Apr2012BRUSSELS - Nato allies sought Wednesday to ensure a smooth withdrawal from Afghanistan and reassure Kabul that the West would financially back Afghan forces once foreign combat troops are gone in 2014.US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Defence Secretary Leon Panetta met with their European and Canadian counterparts as the alliance fine-tunes the final phase of a pullout from the increasingly unpopular war. The talks aimed at preparing a NATO summit in Chicago on May 20-21 follow a weekend Taliban onslaught in Kabul that underscored the insurgency’s resiliency even as officials insist that militants are on the back foot. Afghan forces are gradually taking over control of security in the country, with the goal of being in the lead nationwide next year to enable most of the 130,000 foreign troops to leave by the end of 2014.Full Report At:http://dailymailnews.com/0412/19/FrontPage/index.php?id=7--------

US eyes options to restart Afghan peace talksBy ReutersApril 25, 2012WASHINGTON: President Barack Obama’s administration, seeking to revive stalled Afghan peace talks, may alter plans to transfer Taliban detainees from Guantanamo Bay prison after its initial proposal fell foul of political opponents at home and the insurgents themselves.As foreign forces prepare to exit Afghanistan, the White House had hoped to lay the groundwork for peace talks by sending five Taliban prisoners, some seen as among the most threatening detainees at Guantanamo, to Qatar to rejoin other Taliban members opening a political office there.In return, the Taliban would make its own good-faith gestures, denouncing terrorism and supporting the hoped-for talks with the government of Afghan President Hamid Karzai.Full Report At:http://tribune.com.pk/story/369677/us-eyes-options-to-restart-afghan-peace-talks/?print=true--------

US commits to Afghan security in new pact: OfficialApril 24, 2012KABUL: The United States has committed to ensuring Afghanistan’s security for at least 10 years after most of its troops pull out in 2014, the Afghan deputy foreign minister said Tuesday.“That is a very important aspect of this relationship,” Jawed Ludin said in response to a question about US military commitment in a draft strategic partnership pact agreed on Sunday.But the agreement should not be seen by neighbouring countries as a threat to their own security and would be “a force for good for the whole region”, Ludin told a group of foreign journalists.“We have made it very clear in this document that this can’t be used against a third country and this will not affect the security of Afghanistan’s neighbours,” he said.The full text of the document, which still has to be signed by US President Barack Obama and his Afghan counterpart Hamid Karzai, has not been released and a US embassy spokesman said Tuesday details would not be discussed before it was final.Full Report At:http://tribune.com.pk/story/369233/us-commits-to-afghan-security-in- new-pact-official/?print=true--------

Syria’s Assad 'finished,' Tunisian leader saysBy ROMULO TANGBAWANApr 24, 2012 BEIRUT: Bashar Assad’s international allies must realize the Syrian president is “finished” and persuade him to step down to avoid further bloodshed, Tunisian President Moncef Al-Marzouki said in a newspaper interview published on Tuesday.“The Russians and Chinese, and the Iranians must understand that this man is finished and they cannot defend him. They must persuade him to leave power and hand over to his deputy,” Marzouki told the regional Arab newspaper Al-Hayat.Assad “will go one way or another ... dead or alive,” he added.Addressing the Syrian leader directly, he said: “It’s better for you and your family to leave alive, because if you decide to leave dead, that means that you have caused the deaths of tens of thousands of innocents. Enough blood has been shed.”Tunisia, whose peaceful revolution a year ago sparked the Arab Spring uprisings that saw off autocratic leaders in Egypt, Libya and Yemen, offered to give Assad political asylum in February to stem the violence in Syria, where the United Nations says government forces have killed 9,000 people.Full Report At:http://arabnews.com/middleeast/article616318.ece?service=print--------

Egypt army passes law banning ex-PM from voteApr 24, 2012 CAIRO: Egypt’s ruling military has approved a law that bans top HosniMubarak-era officials from running for the presidency, excluding his last prime minister and further depleting a field reduced by the disqualifications of other front-runners.A copy of the law published on the website of the state-run Al-Ahram newspaper said the legislation would take effect from Tuesday. It showed that the bill had been printed in the official gazette, confirming that the legislation drafted by the Islamist-dominated parliament had been approved by the military.The law denies political rights to anyone who served as president, vice president or prime minister in the decade prior to Mubarak’s removal from power on Feb. 11, 2011. It further applies to anyone who served in top posts in the ruling party.Full Report At:http://arabnews.com/middleeast/article616357.ece?service=print--------

Saleh relative resigns as Yemen air force headBy ASSOCIATED PRESSApr 24, 2012 SANAA: A half-brother of former Yemeni leader Ali Abdullah Saleh has quit as air force commander, having previously refused to do so in a challenge to new President Abd Rabbu Mansour Hadi, a UN envoy said on Tuesday.“The handover has taken place as stated in the decree issued by the president,” Jamal Benomar told reporters in Sanaa. “It was a smooth handover with no conditions whatsoever.”Hadi replaced nearly 20 officers this month, including air force chief Mohammed Saleh Al-Ahmar, who besieged the capital’s airport, grounding all flights, in protest at the decision.Ahmar’s capitulation is Hadi’s first successful move to distance Saleh’s relatives from power and restructure the armed forces, threatening the vested interests of Yemen’s old guard.Full Report At:http://arabnews.com/middleeast/article616356.ece?service=print--------

Syrian rebels target security officials in capital24 April 2012Rebels seeking to topple Syrian President Bashar Assad killed three regime officers in separate attacks Tuesday around Damascus, activists and state media said, the latest violence targeting the security forces used by the government to quash dissent.A bomb hidden in an army truck also exploded in the capital, wounding several people.The persistent bloodshed has tarnished efforts by a U.N. team of observers to bolster a truce that the international community sees as the last-chance to prevent the country from falling into civil war.U.N. monitors visited the restive Damascus suburb of Douma on Tuesday, their second visit in two days. Activists reported shelling and gunfire in the area on Tuesday. Amateur videos posted online also showed smoke rising into the sky after an explosion as well as men and young boys dashing for cover as gunfire is heard nearby.Full Report At:http://www.khaleejtimes.com/kt-article-display-1.asp?section=middleeast&xfile=data/middleeast/2012/April/middleeast_April323.xml--------

US voices concern at Israel outpost authorisation25 Apr 2012,The US has said it is concerned about reports that the Israeli government has decided to make legal under Israeli law three West Bank settlement outposts.A state department spokeswoman said diplomats were "seeking clarification", but stressed they did "not think this is helpful" to the peace process.The US does not accept the legitimacy of continued settlement activity.The Palestinians also condemned the decision to "formalise the status" of Bruchin, Rechelim and Sansana.About 500,000 Jews live in more than 100 settlements built since Israel's 1967 occupation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem. The settlements are considered illegal under international law, though Israel disputes this.Full Report At:http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-17836400?print=true--------

Yemen air force chief 'agrees to give up post'25 Apr 2012,Yemen's air force chief is reported to have finally agreed to give up his post after months of pressure on him to go.Gen Mohammed Saleh al-Ahmar was sacked on 6 April from the post he had held for nearly three decades as part of a restructuring of the armed forces.But he refused to accept the decision of President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi.At one point, forces loyal to Gen Ahmar - a half-brother of former President Ali Abdullah Saleh - closed down Sanaa's airport for one day in protest.Several flights were affected, and the general reportedly threatened to shoot down any planes using the airport unless he was reinstated.US warningPresident Hadi's decision to replace nearly 20 senior officers in the armed forces - including Gen Ahmar and the head of the Presidential Guard, Gen Tariq Mohammed Abdul Saleh - was agreed by Yemen's main political parties.Full Report At:http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-17825776?print=true--------

Violence in Syria’s Capital Even With a Cease-FireBy NEIL MacFARQUHAR and HWAIDA SAADApril 25, 2012BEIRUT, Lebanon — Three members of the Syrian security services used to suppress antigovernment dissent were killed in and around Damascus on Tuesday, according to the official media and activists, one of several indications that the cease-fire arranged under United Nations auspices continued to wobble. In addition, a small bomb exploded outside an Iranian culture and travel center in the center of Damascus, the capital, wounding four people but not causing much damage.Government forces followed the pattern established since the cease-fire, resuming attacks where the United Nations had just visited, while soldiers remained largely quiet in the places where the unarmed monitors were walking around. The Damascus suburb of Douma, which staged a massive anti-government protest when the observers visited Monday, was shelled heavily on Wednesday morning, activists said.Full Report At:http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/26/world/middleeast/violence-in-syrias-capital-even-with-a-cease-fire.html?pagewanted=print---------

Faith at UAB: IslamApr 25, 2012 “I think [the religion] students here know least about is Islam,” says Hakeem Abdul, senior student and president of the Muslim Student Association.The words “Islam” and “Muslim” are both derived from the same Arabic word for “peace.”Muslims believe that God, or Allah, does not have personal relationships with each individual person, so each person must obey His commandments in order to prove allegiance to Him.Islamic tradition teaches that Allah revealed Himself to the prophet Muhammad over a period of twenty-three years. Muhammad recited new laws every day and had some of his companions record them. After Muhammad’s death, these teachings were compiled together and are referred to as “The Quran.”Islam teaches that salvation should be viewed as a reward, not a gift, for those who submit to and obey Allah’s will.Full Report At:http://studentmedia.uab.edu/2012/04/faith-at-uab-islam/URL: http://newageislam.com/islamic-world-news/new-age-islam-news-bureau/muslim-women-in-india-seek-gender-equality-in-marriage/d/7144

TOTAL COMMENTS:- &nbsp 4

"Libya Bans Religious Political Parties"

That would be a good example for Egypt to follow. Even Pakistan and India can learn from it.

By Ghulam Mohiyuddin - 4/25/2012 2:37:46 PM

Indonesia's second-largest Muslim organization says the Ahmadiyya sect are members of Islamic society. This is sensible and shows maturity. We Muslims need to learn to emphasize and expand on points of agreement rather than picking and magnifying differences.

By Ghulam Mohiyuddin - 4/25/2012 2:27:55 PM

AMPLB's decisions cannot be considered valid unless 50% of the members of the Board are women. By Ghulam Mohiyuddin - 4/25/2012 2:18:00 PM

“Ahmadiyyas members of Islamic society, say Indonesian Muslim Ulema.” Now what will fanatics do? Stop counting Indonesians too as Muslims and thus be deprived of the numbers and strength that they feel so proud of. But that way whatever gain they get by converting ones and twos non-Muslims to Muslims will be of no significance in front of this colossal loss. The positive aspect of this development is that now they can flaunt that how liberal and tolerant Muslims are.
For more please read:
A leader of the country’s second-largest Muslim organization says the Ahmadiyya sect are members of Islamic society despite some of their beliefs differing from more mainstream forms of the religion.
Muhammadiyah secretary Abdul Muti said that acknowledgment was based solely on the will to maintain good relationships with Ahmadi counterparts.
“Muhammadiyah acknowledges Muhammad as the final prophet, which is rather different to them. But that doesn’t change our will to maintain good relationships and improve future cooperation with them,” he told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.Separately, Muhammadiyah chairman Din Syamsuddin said that Muhammadiyah has never called for the disbandment of Ahmadiyah, despite the group often declaring that the religious sect was heretical.
“We have been telling our followers to disregard anyone who believes that there was another prophet after Muhammad. However, we are against anyone who physically attacks Ahmadi followers,” he said.
The two largest Muslim organizations in Indonesia, the Nahdlatul Ulama and the Muhammadiyah say the disagreement with the Ahmadiyah view on the role of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad should not be displayed through violence.
By sadaf - 4/25/2012 12:03:53 PM

Compose Your Comments here:

Name

Email

(Not to be published)

Comments

Fill the below text

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in the articles and comments are the opinions
of the authors and do not necessarily reflect that of NewAgeIslam.com.